Hard-working young person is praised by charity

A sixteen-year old girl from Torfaen who gave up her half-term holiday to do work experience at Cancer Research Wales has been praised by the charity.

Kirsty Brookes, 16, split her time between two charity shops in Cardiff and the research laboratory at Velindre Hospital where she helped with administrative tasks like counting cash, photocopying and answering the phone.

"It was awesome," Kirsty said. "I particularly enjoyed going into the labs and doing the protein experiments with the lab technician."

Assistant director, Coleen Watkins, assistant director, said: "Kirsty is a smashing girl and interacted well with our staff and volunteers. She is very hard-working, polite and courteous and just a delight to work with. She was very quick to learn and wasn't afraid to have a go - we only had to tell her how to do something once and she did it."

Torfaen's After Care Employment (ACE) Co-ordinator, Gail Clarke, offers support to both the young person and the employer during all work experience placements.

"It's a great experience for young people to see what volunteers actually do. It just gives them an insight into the way of working and to also see what others give back to the community," added Ms Watkins.

Kirsty has this advice for other young people who are considering work experience.

"Do something you'll enjoy and participate in everything you're asked to do, even if you don't initially want to do it - you might find you enjoy it."

Kirsty is now studying for a BTEC First Diploma in Health and Social Care and is also a volunteer mentor for the ACE Employability Scheme and the Care Leavers Mentoring Scheme.

Long-term, she wants to become a midwife and is looking forward to doing more work experience, this time within a hospital setting.

For Kirsty, the future is looking bright; however there are always other young people looking for local work experience placements.

If you are an employer who is interested in offering work experience to a young person, please contact Gail Clarke, Employment and Training Co-ordinator at Torfaen's Young People's Support Service, on 01633 647532 or email gail.clarke@torfaen.gov.uk